EP3929592A1 - Analyseur automatisé - Google Patents

Analyseur automatisé Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3929592A1
EP3929592A1 EP20758550.6A EP20758550A EP3929592A1 EP 3929592 A1 EP3929592 A1 EP 3929592A1 EP 20758550 A EP20758550 A EP 20758550A EP 3929592 A1 EP3929592 A1 EP 3929592A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
cleaning fluid
vacuum
probe
solenoid valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP20758550.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3929592A4 (fr
Inventor
Takamichi Mori
Syotaro SAGAWA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi High Tech Corp
Original Assignee
Hitachi High Tech Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hitachi High Tech Corp filed Critical Hitachi High Tech Corp
Publication of EP3929592A1 publication Critical patent/EP3929592A1/fr
Publication of EP3929592A4 publication Critical patent/EP3929592A4/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1004—Cleaning sample transfer devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1002—Reagent dispensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that analyzes a liquid sample such as blood, urine and the like to determine a concentration of a predetermined component contained therein, and the like.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique in which a vacuum tank is connected to a vacuum pump to maintain the pressure in the vacuum tank at a negative pressure, and then the vacuum pressure in the vacuum tank is used to suck a cleaning fluid or the like (waste fluid) discharged when a reaction container is cleaned.
  • Patent Literature 1 a reaction liquid or a cleaning fluid is temporarily stored in a suction bottle in a reaction container cleaning mechanism using a large amount of cleaning fluid, and a solenoid valve is opened to discharge the waste fluid which is stored in the suction bottle.
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-308506
  • a cleaning drying bath in which a sample probe is cleaned is configured to be connected to a vacuum tank so that waste fluid produced by cleaning the sample probe collects in the vacuum tank.
  • the interior and exterior of the probe is cleaned with a cleaning fluid in order to prevent contamination between analytes (test samples).
  • test samples analytes
  • the leading end of the sample probe is inserted into a sample container for aspiration.
  • the sample probe may be inserted to a depth of several millimeters from the liquid surface of the sample for aspiration, or otherwise it may perform aspiration around the bottom of a test tube containing the sample. In the latter case, because a wide range of the sample probe has to be cleaned, the cleaning fluid is applied to the sample probe which is being moved down and up so that the entire sample probe is cleaned.
  • the amount of cleaning fluid adheres to the exterior of the probe which has been cleaned is greater in comparison to the former case where only the leading end is cleaned. If the next sample is aspirated by the probe with the cleaning fluid adhering to its exterior, the sample will be diluted with the cleaning fluid. Therefore, the cleaning fluid is required to be removed speedily by vacuum suction.
  • Patent Literature 1 may be adequate as long as the amount of waste fluid produced by cleaning a sample probe is small.
  • the waste fluid collects in the vacuum tank and therefore periodical removal of waste fluid is required.
  • the removal of waste fluid produces a need to draw anew vacuum on the vacuum tank. Therefore, if there is a likelihood of a large amount of waste fluid, the cleaning drying bath and the vacuum tank are desirably connected to each other via a vacuum bottle to prevent the cleaning fluid (waste fluid) as much as possible from being drawn into the vacuum tank by vacuum suction.
  • the amount of waste fluid produced by cleaning the sample probe is not much in comparison to, for example, the amount of waste fluid discharged from the reaction container cleaning mechanism.
  • a solenoid valve installed in the vacuum bottle is opened to suck air through a vacuum suction port for extrusion of the waste fluid collecting in the vacuum bottle.
  • the solenoid valve may be clogged with dust and/or the like in the air coming in through the vacuum suction port. If dust and/or the like adheres to a valve seat of the solenoid valve, it is likely that the negative pressure in the vacuum tank does not reach a preset value because of a leak from the solenoid valve even if the vacuum pump is operated with the solenoid valve closed.
  • an apparatus alarm may possibly be generated by a sensor monitoring a negative pressure state, or the like.
  • An automatic analyzer includes: a cleaning bath that has a cleaning fluid outlet from which cleaning fluid is discharged for cleaning a probe, and a vacuum suction port into which the probe is inserted; a cleaning tank that stores the cleaning fluid; a vacuum tank; a vacuum pump that causes the vacuum tank to be placed under negative pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure; a vacuum bottle placed between the vacuum suction port and the vacuum tank; and as channels through which the cleaning fluid flows into the vacuum bottle, a first channel connected to the vacuum suction port and a second channel connected to the cleaning tank.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic analyzer.
  • the automatic analyzer is an apparatus used to dispense a sample and a reagent into a plurality of reaction containers 2 to initiate a reaction between them, and then measure the reacted liquid.
  • the automatic analyzer includes a reaction disk 1, a reagent disk 9, a sample transport mechanism 17, reagent dispense mechanisms 7, 8, reagent syringes 18, 18a, sample dispense mechanisms 11, 12, sample syringes 19, 19a, a cleaning mechanism 3, a light source 4a, a spectrophotometer 4, agitation mechanisms 5, 6, a cleaning pump 20, cleaning baths 13, 14, 30, 31, 32, 33, a vacuum suction port 40, and a controller 21.
  • the reaction containers 2 are arranged on the circular circumference.
  • the sample transport mechanism 17 is installed near the reaction disk 1 to move a rack 16 which is loaded with sample containers 15.
  • the sample containers 15 contain test samples (analytes) such as blood or the like, and the sample containers 15 are loaded on the rack 16 to be transported by the sample transport mechanism 17.
  • the sample dispense mechanism 11 and the sample dispense mechanism 12, which are rotatable and vertical movable, are installed between the reaction disk 1 and the sample transport mechanism 17.
  • the sample dispense mechanisms 11, 12 include sample probes 11a, 12a connected to the sample syringes 19, 19a, respectively. Each of the sample probes 11a, 12a moves along an arc around the rotational axis of the corresponding sample dispense mechanism 11, 12 in order to dispense a sample from the sample container 15 to the reaction container 2.
  • a plurality of reagent bottles 10 is capable of being loaded on the circular circumference of the reagent disk 9.
  • the reagent disk 9 is held at cool temperatures.
  • the rotatable and vertical movable reagent dispense mechanisms 7, 8 are installed between the reaction disk 1 and the reagent disk 9.
  • the reagent dispense mechanisms 7, 8 include reagent probes 7a, 8a connected to the reagent syringes 18, 18a, respectively. Each of the reagent probes 7a, 8a moves along an arc around the rotational axis of the corresponding reagent dispense mechanism 7, 8 in order to access the reagent disk 9 for dispensing of a reagent from the reagent bottle 10 to the reaction container 2.
  • the cleaning mechanism 3 that cleans only the reaction containers after use in measurement; agitation mechanisms 5, 6 that perform agitation of a liquid mixture (reaction liquid) of a reagent and a sample in the reaction container; and the light source 4a and the spectrophotometer 4 that irradiate the liquid mixture (reaction liquid) in the reaction container with light and measures the absorbance, for example.
  • the cleaning pump 20 is connected to the cleaning mechanism 3.
  • the cleaning baths 13, 14, 33, 32, 31, 30 are disposed respectively within operating ranges of the sample dispense mechanisms 11, 12, the reagent dispense mechanisms 7, 8 and the agitation mechanisms 5, 6.
  • Each mechanism of the automatic analyzer is connected to and controlled by the controller 21.
  • a process of analyzing a test sample by an automatic analyzer is typically executed in the following order. Initially, a sample container 15 loaded on the rack 16 is transported to a position close to the reaction disk 1 by the sample transport mechanism 17, and the sample in the sample container 15 is dispensed to the reaction container 2 on the reaction disk 1 by the sample probe 11a of the sample dispense mechanism 11. Subsequently, using the reagent probe 7a of the reagent dispense mechanism 7 or the reagent probe 8a of the reagent dispense mechanism 8, a reagent to be used in analysis is dispensed from the reagent bottle 10 on the reagent disk 9 to the reaction container 2 in which the sample has already been dispensed. Subsequently, the liquid mixture of the sample and the reagent in the reaction container 2 is agitated by the agitation mechanism 5.
  • the light emitted from the light source 4a is transmitted through the reaction container 2 containing the liquid mixture, and a light intensity of the transmitted light is measured by the spectrophotometer 4.
  • the light intensity measured by the spectrophotometer 4 is transmitted to the controller 21 via an A/D convertor and an interface.
  • the controller 21 performs computations to calculate, from the absorbance of the liquid mixture (reaction liquid), a concentration of a component designated by an analysis item corresponding to the reagent, and/or the like.
  • the measurement result thus obtained is displayed on a display unit (not shown) and/or the like.
  • the sample probe 11a aspirating a sample in the sample container 15 is for aspiration from an upper portion of the sample container 15, and the sample probe 12a is for aspiration from the vicinity of the bottom of the sample container 15. Because of this, for the sample probe 12a which has been used to dispense a sample, a need arises to clean a wide range of the sample probe in the cleaning bath 14 in order to prevent contamination between samples. After the cleaning of the wide range, because a large amount cleaning fluid adheres to the sample probe 12a, the vacuum suction port 40 is installed in the cleaning bath 14 so that the cleaning fluid adhering to the sample probe 12a is removed to prevent the sample from being diluted with the cleaning fluid.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of the cleaning bath 14, in which a section view, a top view and a side view are shown.
  • a drainage tube 43 and the vacuum suction port 40 are installed in the bottom of a bath 42.
  • a cleaning fluid outlet 41 is also installed in the vicinity of the bath 42.
  • the sample probe 12a is inserted into the bath 42 in the vicinity of the cleaning fluid outlet 41, and while the sample probe 12a is being moved up and down, the entire contaminated range of the exterior of the sample probe 12a is cleaned up.
  • the cleaning fluid used for cleaning is discharged from the drainage tube 43.
  • the sample probe 12a is moved to the vacuum suction port 40, and then is moved up and down to remove the cleaning fluid adhering to the sample probe 12a.
  • the vacuum suction port 40 when viewed from the top of the bath 42, the vacuum suction port 40 is installed in a different position from the position where the cleaning fluid is ejected from the cleaning fluid outlet 41, and the drainage tube 43 is installed in the position where the cleaning fluid is ejected from the cleaning fluid outlet 41. This minimizes the risk that a test sample adhering to the exterior of the sample probe 12a enters the vacuum suction port 40.
  • Fig. 3A illustrates a channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 (first comparative example).
  • the cleaning fluid is stored in a cleaning tank 51, and is supplied to the cleaning fluid outlet 41 of the cleaning bath 14 by a pump 52.
  • a first solenoid valve 50a is installed between the pump 52 and the cleaning fluid outlet 41.
  • the drainage tube 43 is connected to a drain 53.
  • a vacuum pump 54 and a vacuum tank 55 are also installed for vacuum suction, and a second solenoid valve 50b is installed between the vacuum tank 55 and the vacuum suction port 40.
  • the cleaning fluid adhering to the side face of the sample probe 12a collects directly in the vacuum tank 55. This gives rise to a need to remove the cleaning fluid collecting in the vacuum tank 55 after the repetitive vacuum suction operation is repeatedly performed.
  • the second solenoid valve 50b sucks predominantly air from the vacuum suction port 40. Therefore, there is a risk of dust and/or the like in the air being caught in a valve portion of the second solenoid valve 50b, and at worst the hermetic performance of the second solenoid valve 50b may be decreased, and in turn a leak from the second solenoid valve 50b may occur to decrease the vacuum performance in the process of using the vacuum pump 54 to generate a negative pressure in the vacuum tank 55.
  • Fig. 3B illustrates another channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 (second comparative example).
  • a point of difference from the channel configuration in Fig. 3A is that a vacuum bottle 56 is disposed to prevent the cleaning fluid adhering to the side face of the sample probe 12a from being accumulated directly in the vacuum tank 55. The cleaning fluid adhering to the sample probe 12a is temporarily stored in the vacuum bottle 56. Then, a third solenoid valve 50c installed between the vacuum bottle 56 and the drain 53 is opened for discharge into the drain 53. This eliminates a situation in which the cleaning fluid collects in the vacuum tank 55. However, as in the case of the second solenoid valve 50b in Fig. 3A , there still remains the risk of dust and/or the like being caught in the third solenoid valve 50c. Decreasing the hermetic performance of the third solenoid valve 50c may give rise to a defective condition such as a reduction in vacuum suction power and backflow of the cleaning fluid from the drain 53 toward the vacuum bottle 56.
  • Fig. 4A illustrates a channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 according to a first example.
  • a branch point 61 is installed in a channel 60 through which the cleaning fluid in the cleaning tank 51 is delivered to the cleaning fluid outlet 41 by the pump 52, and the channel 60 and the vacuum bottle 56 are connected to each other by a bypass passage 62.
  • two routes are provided for the channels for inflow of the cleaning fluid into the vacuum bottle 56, which have a channel for inflow of the cleaning fluid from the cleaning tank as well as a channel connected to the vacuum suction port 40.
  • Fig. 4B illustrates the operation of the channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 when the exterior of the sample probe 12a is cleaned.
  • the cleaning fluid is ejected from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 toward the sample probe 12a inserted in the cleaning bath 14, and the vacuum suction operation is not performed.
  • the first solenoid valve 50a By turning the first solenoid valve 50a to Open (open position), the cleaning fluid is ejected from the cleaning fluid outlet 41.
  • the cleaning fluid flows into the vacuum bottle 56 after the cleaning fluid is extruded from pump 52 into a bypass passage 62 via the branch point 61.
  • arrows 60v, 62v schematically represent, as arrow's widths, the volumes of cleaning fluid flowing in the channel 60 and the bypass passage 62 after the branch point, respectively.
  • the second solenoid valve 50b and the third solenoid valve 50c are in Close (closed position).
  • the vacuum suction port 40 is in an air open state, the cleaning fluid is able to be easily delivered from the bypass passage 62 into the vacuum bottle 56.
  • the sample probe 12a is moved to the vacuum suction port 40, and the second solenoid valve 50b is turned to Open. Then, the sample probe 12a is moved up and down to remove the cleaning fluid.
  • a cleaning fluid 60w, a cleaning fluid 62w and a cleaning fluid 40w are drawn into the vacuum bottle 56 by the vacuum suction operation, the cleaning fluid 60w collecting in an area from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 to the branch point 61 when the exterior of the sample probe 12a is cleaned, the cleaning fluid 62w collecting in the bypass passage 62, the cleaning fluid 40w adhering to the side face of the sample probe 12a.
  • the diameter of the cleaning fluid outlet 41 is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the vacuum suction port 40, and also a major portion of the vacuum suction port 40 is blocked with the sample probe 12a during vacuum suction. Therefore, by turning the second solenoid valve 50b to Open, the cleaning fluids 60w, 62w are able to be easily drawn into the vacuum bottle 56.
  • the cleaning fluid stored in the vacuum bottle 56 after the completion of the drying operation for the sample probe 12a is the sum of cleaning fluids 62v,60w, 62w and 40w.
  • the cleaning fluid collecting in the vacuum bottle 56 is only the cleaning fluid 40w.
  • turning the third solenoid valve 50c to Open enables washing of the valve seat of the third solenoid valve 50c with a larger amount of cleaning fluid stored in the vacuum bottle 56 than that in comparative examples, so that the solenoid valve can be prevented from having a malfunction due to dust and/or the like.
  • a newly added configuration corresponds to only an area from the branch point 61 to the bypass passage 62, which is practicable at low cost.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a time chart for the above-described operation.
  • the time chart shows the operation in a cycle defined for the cleaning bath 14 by a sequence.
  • the channel configuration according to the first example after the completion of the cleaning and drying operation for the sample probe 12a, the channel from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 to the branch point 61 is placed in the state in which no cleaning fluid is left in the channel by the vacuum suction operation. Because of this, in the subsequent cycle, the first solenoid valve 50a is turned to Open before a predetermined time period 70 prior to the timing for starting the cleaning of the sample probe 12a. Thereby, the predetermined cleaning time in a cycle can be ensured, and this makes it possible to prevent contamination from occurring due to the shortage of time to clean the sample probe 12a.
  • the channel is designed such that, in a cycle during which a sample probe is cleaned and dried as illustrated in Fig. 5 , a sufficient amount of cleaning fluid to wash the valve seat of the third solenoid valve 50c is stored in the vacuum bottle 56.
  • a throttle may be installed in the bypass passage, or otherwise a variable throttle and/or the like may be used to be able to adjust the rate of flow of the cleaning fluid.
  • the channel length from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 to the branch point 61 may be long, and the like.
  • the cleaning fluid can also be stored in the vacuum bottle for each cycle and then discharged to the drain in order to clean the third solenoid valve 50c in standby cleaning operation or maintenance operation for a sample probe which is not used for sample (analyte) aspiration.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an example of the maintenance operation in which the interior cleaning operation for the sample probe 12a is utilized to clean the vacuum bottle 56 and the third solenoid valve 50c.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a time chart for such maintenance operation. If, in the maintenance operation, detergent is aspirated into the sample probe 12a for interior cleaning, this is also effective in cleaning the vacuum bottle 56 and the third solenoid valve 50c.
  • a detergent bottle is disposed between the reaction disk 1 and the sample transport mechanism 17, and the sample probe 12a aspirates the detergent from the detergent bottle. After the sample probe 12a is moved to the vacuum suction port 40, the descent operation is performed.
  • the sample probe 12a starts ejection after its leading end is inserted into the vacuum suction port 40. It is noted that the time to clean the interior of the sample probe 12a is set to be equal to or longer than the time to remove the detergent from the interior of the sample probe 12a.
  • the detergent and the cleaning fluid discharged from the sample probe 12a are able to be stored in the vacuum bottle 56.
  • the cleaning fluid from the cleaning tank 51 is able to be stored in the vacuum bottle 56 via the bypass passage 62.
  • the second solenoid valve 50b is turned to Open, whereby the cleaning fluid located from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 to the branch point 61 is able to be stored in the vacuum bottle 56 via the bypass passage 62.
  • the third solenoid valve 50c is turned to Open, the cleaning fluid stored in the vacuum bottle 56 is discharged to the drain 53, thereby making it possible to wash the valve seat of the third solenoid valve 50c.
  • the detergent and the cleaning fluid used in the interior cleaning operation are supplied to the vacuum bottle 56. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of cleaning fluid to be supplied from the cleaning tank 51. In turn, while minimizing wasted cleaning fluid as a whole, a required amount of cleaning fluid can be stored in the vacuum bottle 56 in a short time.
  • the use of detergent in the interior cleaning operation is optional, and similar operation to that in Fig. 6 is performed in the interior cleaning operation during the analysis operation of the automatic analyzer, whereby the cleaning fluid discharged in the interior cleaning operation for a sample probe is able to be utilized for the cleaning operation for a solenoid valve.
  • the third solenoid valve 50c is kept clean and the solenoid valve can be prevented from having a malfunction due to dust and/or the like.
  • Fig. 7A illustrates another channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 according to the first example.
  • a difference from the channel configuration in Fig. 4A is that a fourth solenoid valve 50d is disposed in the bypass passage 62.
  • Fig. 7B illustrate the operation of the channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 during cleaning of the exterior of the sample probe 12a.
  • the first solenoid valve 50a is in Open, whereas the fourth solenoid valve 50d is in Close, so that no cleaning fluid flows in the bypass passage 62. Therefore, when the sample probe 12a is cleaned, all the cleaning water 60v' supplied from the channel 60 can be allocated to cleaning of the sample probe 12a without loss of cleaning fluid.
  • the movement of the cleaning fluid in the vacuum suction operation is described below with reference to Fig. 7C .
  • the sample probe 12a is moved to the vacuum suction port 40, and the fourth solenoid valve 50d and the second solenoid valve 50b are turned in this order to Open. Then, the sample probe 12a is moved up and down to remove the cleaning fluid.
  • a cleaning fluid 60w'and a cleaning fluid 40w' are drawn into the vacuum bottle 56 by the vacuum suction operation, the cleaning fluid 60w' collecting in an area from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 to the branch point 61 when the exterior of the sample probe 12a is cleaned, the cleaning fluid 40w' adhering to the side face of the sample probe 12a.
  • the cleaning fluid stored in the vacuum bottle 56 after the completion of the drying operation for the sample probe 12a is the sum of cleaning fluids 60w' and 40w', and thus, with this channel configuration, a large amount of cleaning fluid is also able to be stored in the vacuum bottle 56 in comparison with the case of the cleaning fluid 40w' in the second comparative example ( Fig. 3B ).
  • the third solenoid valve 50c is turned to Open after the completion of the drying operation for the sample probe 12a.
  • This makes it possible to wash the valve seat of the third solenoid valve 50c with the cleaning fluid stored in the vacuum bottle 56, so that the solenoid valve can be prevented from having a malfunction due to dust and/or the like.
  • the cleaning fluid supplied from the cleaning tank 51 is ejected directly from the cleaning fluid outlet 41, so that a further reduction in exterior cleaning time is enabled.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a time chart of the above-described operation, which is similar to the time chart in Fig. 5 , except for the control on the fourth solenoid valve 50d. Therefore, a similar description is omitted. It is noted that this operation can be similarly applied to standby cleaning operation or maintenance operation for a sample probe which is not used for sample (analyte) aspiration, in addition to the cleaning and drying operation for a sample probe after being used for sample (analyte) aspiration.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates an example where, in the maintenance operation, the interior cleaning operation for the sample probe 12a is utilized to clean the vacuum bottle 56 and/or the third solenoid valve 50c.
  • a time chart is the same time chart for executing the maintenance operation as that in Fig. 6 . Therefore, except for the control on the fourth solenoid valve 50d, the time chart is similar to that in Fig. 6 , and a similar description is omitted.
  • the fourth solenoid valve 50d is also placed in Open such that the cleaning fluid from the cleaning tank 51 is stored in the vacuum bottle 56 through the bypass passage 62. At this time, the cleaning fluid discharged from the cleaning fluid outlet 41 is directly discharged to the drain. Therefore, the period of time that the fourth solenoid valve 50d is in Open desirably includes margins before and after the period of time that the first solenoid valve 50a is in Open.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a channel configuration of the cleaning bath 14 according to a second example.
  • the channel configuration according to the second example includes a channel 63 through which the cleaning fluid in the cleaning tank 51 is supplied to the vacuum bottle 56 by the pump 52.
  • a destination of the cleaning fluid from the cleaning tank 51 is selected from between the cleaning fluid outlet 41 and the vacuum bottle 56.
  • the first solenoid valve 50a is installed in the channel 60 between the pump 52 and the cleaning fluid outlet 41
  • the fifth solenoid valve 50e is installed in the channel 63 between the pump 52 and the vacuum bottle 56.
  • the fifth solenoid valve 50e is controlled such that the amount of cleaning fluid required to wash the valve seat of the third solenoid valve 50c flows from the cleaning tank 51 to collect in the vacuum bottle 56 during a cycle.
  • the total cleaning fluid supplied from the pump 52 is supplied to the vacuum bottle 56. This enables supplying a required amount of cleaning fluid to the vacuum bottle 56 in a short time.
  • a time chart in the second example is not illustrated in particular.
  • the period of time that the fifth solenoid valve 50e is in Open during a cycle may be determined to avoid an overlap with the period of time that the cleaning fluid is supplied from the cleaning tank 51 to the cleaning fluid outlet 41, that is, the period of time that the first solenoid valve 50a is placed in Open for probe cleaning.
  • the cleaning bath for the sample probe has been described as an example embodiment.
  • the technology is also applicable to a cleaning bath for a reagent probe and the like.
  • the sample probe is not required to be moved up and down because of a small cleaning range, the cleaning fluid adhering to the side face of the sample probe is removed at the vacuum suction position. Therefore, the advantageous effects of the present examples are not subject to limitations by the cleaning operation for the sample probe.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
EP20758550.6A 2019-02-18 2020-01-30 Analyseur automatisé Pending EP3929592A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2019026313 2019-02-18
PCT/JP2020/003384 WO2020170751A1 (fr) 2019-02-18 2020-01-30 Analyseur automatisé

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3929592A1 true EP3929592A1 (fr) 2021-12-29
EP3929592A4 EP3929592A4 (fr) 2022-10-26

Family

ID=72144241

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20758550.6A Pending EP3929592A4 (fr) 2019-02-18 2020-01-30 Analyseur automatisé

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20220034926A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP3929592A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP6998492B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN113039440A (fr)
WO (1) WO2020170751A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5357893U (fr) * 1976-10-16 1978-05-17
JPH0478558U (fr) * 1990-11-21 1992-07-08
JP3282248B2 (ja) * 1992-11-26 2002-05-13 株式会社島津製作所 生化学自動分析装置の洗浄装置
CA2132270A1 (fr) * 1993-10-28 1995-04-29 Erich Lerch Systeme de pipetage automatise dote d'un dispositif de rincage
JP3873656B2 (ja) * 2001-05-16 2007-01-24 株式会社日立製作所 自動分析装置
JP4443271B2 (ja) * 2004-03-12 2010-03-31 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ 自動分析装置
JP2005308506A (ja) 2004-04-21 2005-11-04 Hitachi High-Technologies Corp 自動分析装置
US7621282B2 (en) * 2004-06-17 2009-11-24 Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Probe washing cups and methods
US20080099057A1 (en) * 2006-10-27 2008-05-01 Dade Behring Inc. Method and Device for Cleaning a Liquid Aspiration and Dispense Probe
EP2947463B1 (fr) 2013-01-21 2021-12-15 Hitachi High-Tech Corporation Dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une sonde
CN203299211U (zh) * 2013-06-18 2013-11-20 东软安德医疗科技有限公司 一种全自动生化分析仪给排液系统
US9869686B2 (en) * 2014-01-27 2018-01-16 Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Automatic analyzer
CN108700610B (zh) * 2016-02-24 2022-09-27 株式会社日立高新技术 自动分析装置及清洗方法
CN110300895B (zh) * 2017-02-24 2022-12-13 株式会社日立高新技术 自动分析装置
JP6749857B2 (ja) * 2017-03-24 2020-09-02 株式会社日立ハイテク 自動分析装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPWO2020170751A1 (ja) 2021-10-07
WO2020170751A1 (fr) 2020-08-27
US20220034926A1 (en) 2022-02-03
EP3929592A4 (fr) 2022-10-26
CN113039440A (zh) 2021-06-25
JP6998492B2 (ja) 2022-01-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1766418B1 (fr) Coupelles de lavage de sonde et procedes associes
JP3590072B2 (ja) 液体サンプル・プローブをクリーニングするための装置
EP3287793B1 (fr) Auto-analyseur et procédé
JP2009042067A (ja) 自動分析装置
US9513305B2 (en) Multiple cleaning stations for a dispensing probe
CN108700610B (zh) 自动分析装置及清洗方法
CN107206382B (zh) 在移液操作期间提供减少的残留的方法和设备
JP3868102B2 (ja) 分注装置及びこの分注装置を構成要素とする分析装置
JP5111328B2 (ja) 自動分析装置
JP5489283B2 (ja) 自動分析装置
CN107835942B (zh) 自动分析装置及液体容器
EP3929592A1 (fr) Analyseur automatisé
JP2011106828A (ja) 分注装置、自動分析装置及び分注方法
EP1335853B1 (fr) Distributeur d'echantillons de liquide sans contamination
EP3859347B1 (fr) Analyseur automatisé et procédé de nettoyage
EP3971583B1 (fr) Dispositif d'analyse automatique
JP7125873B2 (ja) 分析装置及び試薬容器
WO2023127646A1 (fr) Dispositif de nettoyage, dispositif d'analyse d'échantillons et procédé de nettoyage
JP2003294773A (ja) 臨床検査自動分析装置、臨床検査自動分析装置の洗浄方法
JP7167037B2 (ja) 自動分析装置および検体分注機構の異常検出方法
JPS62228954A (ja) 自動化学分析装置の分注方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20210429

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20220926

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: G01N 35/10 20060101AFI20220921BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20230403